Slicing-machine.



,G. W. DREWI SLICING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. II, I914.

1,242,881 Patented Oct. 9,1917.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET W/T/VESSES: I lNl/E/VTOR A TTOR/VE Y Patented Ooh-9,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F 1 I I I I l I I ll A TTOR/VEY ekw. DREW. V SLICING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED APR. 1111914.

UTE 1% GEORGE W. DREW, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SLICING-MACHINE.

raaasei.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, GEORGE W. DREW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slicing- Machines, of which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to improvements in slicing machines especially designed for fruit slicing, wherein a plurality of circular cutters are grouped in semi-circular order and rotate on radial lines, above a traveling conveyer. 1

My invention consists'inmeans for mounting the cutters, meansfor'driving the cut ters, means for yieldingly supporting the conveyer' immediately under the convergent lower edges of the cutters, means for raising and lowering the conveyer to compensate for wear, means for tightening and loosening the conveyer, means for wiping the material from the cutters and retaining it on the conveyor and means for depositing it in a receptacle.

My object is to provide a simple, efficient and durable machine, which can be easily understood and operated, and constructed at moderate cost.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a'top view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of the machine, showing the manner of constructing the conveyer tightener, cushioning pulley and spring adjustment, pulley for raising and lowering the conveyor, depositing spout, hood and deflector. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional and elevation view, showing the plan of mounting and driving the cutters. Fig. 4: is a partial face view of a hanger, showing a sectional view of the j ournaled lower end of the same, longitudinal sectional view of the tubular journal and tubular bushing, cross sectional view of the bent in flange, cross sectional view of cutter and perspective view of a universal joint. Fig. is a side view of the conveyer tightener. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line a, a. 1, shown in Fig. 3 is an arched metal frame, provided with a slot 2 through which boltsare placed to hold the hangers 3 in position. Upon this frame are assembled the hangers 3 which carry the slicing disks 6, the lower ends of the hangers converging toward the axis of the frame. Each end of this arched frame has a base 5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

Application filed April 11, 1914. Serial No. 831,187.

extending forward, backward and inward for securing itto the stand and supporting the horizontal cross bar 31, Figs. 1 and 3.

The hangers-3 have slots 4 through which bolts are placed to secure them to the frame 1. These slots permit the hangers to be advanced as the diameter of the cutters through use is diminished. The end of the hanger 3 toward the axis of the frame is provided with an, opening, through which the tubular journal mounting 7 is placed, the opening forming a box for the journal 7. 39 is an adjusting screw in the outer end of the hanger 3 and rests upon the outer edge of the frame 1. The cutters 6 are circular in form, made of metal, regularly spaced and rotate on radial lines. The tubular journal mounting 7 is provided with a flange 10, Fig. 4, which is bent inward to bring-the cutter 6 near the center of the bearing. To this flange the cutter 6 is secured by means of screws or bolts.

I construct this tubular journal mounting 7 as shown in Fig. 4, with a bushing 8 fitted into its center. The bushing 8 is round externally in cross section with a formed open ing through the center longitudinally or similarly recessed in each end; it is threaded into the center'of the tubular journal mounting. The ends of the universal joint 9 fit the opening 19 in the bushing 8. A bar 18 extends across the opening 19 in the bushing 8 to prevent the universal joint 9 from passing or dropping through the opening 19. The bar18 may be integral as shown or It may be put into the opening 19 bent and straightened out with its ends fitting into recesses in the side walls of the opening 19. The bushing 8 is provided with a collar on one end which, with the flange 10 retains the journal 7 in position. The journal mounting 7 may be constructed with bushing 8 as de scribed or it may be made in one piece with an opening through the center similar to the opening 19 in the bushing 8 and a collar threaded on the end to hold it in place.

The method of construction will depend upon the material used, size of the machine, severity of the work to be performed and whether the machine can be lubricated or not. There is one such journal mounting 7 for each cutter.

9 is a form of universal joint adopted for my use. Its ends in cross section are square and larger than the central portion to admit of an oscillating movement without striking and binding on the sides of the opening in the bushing 8. The ends are made to work easily in the opening of the bushing; the four edges of each end are rounded to a diameter equal to the width of theopening in which they work; this will allow them to Y oscillate without binding. The universal joints 9 are made of a proper length toallow for adjustment as the diameter of the cutters 6 is diminished through use and the hangers 3 are advanced, bringing the ends of the journals 7 closer together. The joints 9 are made of metal, either bronze, cast iron or forged steel.

11, Fig. 3, is a perpendicular shaft with a formed fitting secured to its upper end. This fitting is recessed similar to the opening 19 in the bushing 8,, into which recess is placed one end of thefirst universal joint 9, the other end of this joint being placed in the adjacent end of the square opening li) ofthe first'mounting 7 the second joint having one end placed in the other end of the first mounting 7 and engaging the second mounting 7. In this manner all the mountings 7 are connected up by universal oints 9. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft 11 revolves, the mountings 7 and their respective cutters also revolve. 1

The perpendicular shaft 11, Fig. 3, and horizontal shaft 12, Fig. 1, with attendant cog gearing form the power transmission connection between the main driving shaft up the conveyer belt 51 to compensate for the furrowing out process caused by the cutters and it is desirable to have a positive and rigid device to accomplish this end. The lift mechanism devised for their purpose shown in Figs. 1- and 2 consists of a horizontal shaft 14: extending across the back part of the machine just above the shafts 12 and in front of the drive pulley 20, two shaft carrying boxes 15 with their sides grooved, two pairs of guides 16 with screws and hand wheels threaded in the under side thereof to raise or lower the shaft and pulley and a pulley 17 Fig. 2 placed on the shaft 14 under the top part of the conveyer belt 51. This lift is used to raise the top part of the conveyer until it contacts with the lower edges of the cutters when the conveyer will presumedly be on a straight line from the crown of the lift pulley 17 to the crown of the forward conveyer pulley 21, relieving the cushioning pulley22 of any downward strain.

22, Fig. 2, is a cushioning pulley and is located under the upper part of the conveyer belt directly under the convergent lower edges" of the cuttersw It is carried by a frame 23 whichis in the form of a right angle and pivoted at the angle 24. The upper or horizontal part of the frame 23 carries the pulley while the loweror vertical part contacts with the operating mechanism which consists of a ram 25, with a collar 26 integral therewith, a helical'spring 27, a tubular compression bushing 28, a'barrel 29 and hand wheel nut 30. The ram 25 has acollar 26 which prevents it from turning in the barrel 29, and is threaded on one end for the reception ofrthe. wheel. nut 30.

The spring 27 operates the ram 25 which lifts the frame 23 carrying the cushioning pulley 22. The compression bushing-28 is the spring 27 by compressing or releasing it, giving to. it the desired thrust. ,The wheel nut 30 acts as a stop onthe ram; 25, and determines the position of the cushionused toincrease or diminish the strength of ing pulley 22. .lVhen properly adjustedthe cushioning pulley will retain the conveyer belt in a fixed position, will not throw it into the lower edges of the cutters, will yield under excessive pressure protecting the cutters from. damage by hard bodies accidentally run into the machine and will furnish suflicient lift for cutting effect.

,A stripper 33, 34, Fig. 2, consisting of an arch 33, and finger 34 is located back of and between the cutters; it is used to wipethe material from the sides of the cutters and retain it upon the conveyer belt. The semi circular arch 33 is immediately back of the cutter and carries the finger 34. It has slotted holes for side adjustment of the fingers. The finger 34: are assembled upon the arch in semicircular order, the terminal ones lying vertically edgewise just abovethe upper surface of the conveyer belt and under the two outside cutters, being parallel both ways with the. upper surface of the conveyer 51. These two fingers retainthe material on the conveyer; the, intermediate fingers lie between the cutters. I prefer to make this stripper of metal.

35, Figs. 1 and 2, is a spout for conduct ing the material beyond the conveyer and depositing it in receptacles. It is made flaring, widening as it approaches the outer end. Pivoted in about the center of the of the deflector. remains some distance from the opposite side leaving an opening through which the material passes. The deflector is operated by means of the handle'37 the flow of material'is directed from. one receptacle to another without removing either.

ra iassi 38, Fig. 2, is a hood hinged to the upper end of the spout 35. It is provided to close the gap between the spout and the stripper 33, 34. By raising it and throwing it back the operator is enabled to remove the stripper or put it in place. It is a continuation of the spout and aids in retaining the material on the conveyer.

The cross bar 31, Figs. 1 and 2, is secured, as by bolts, to the bases 5 of the arched frame 1, and supports the brackets which carry the shafts 11 and 12 and also the bracket carrying the cushioning pulley frame 23 and stripper 33, 34. It is preferably a metal casting.

By experiment it hasbeen found advisable to provide means for regulating the tension of the conveyer belt 51. The material handled by the conveyer is very wet as it is generally taken, after several washing operations, directly to the machine to be sliced. The water, in addition to the juice of the material, keeps the conveyer almost continually flooded while it is in op eration. This causes the conveyer to become very slack and sloppy. I provide for overcoming this difiiculty by means of the device shown at the forward end of the machine Fig. 2, and in detail Figs. 5 and 6. It consists mainly of a sliding swivel shaft box 40, which will permit the shaft 43, to stand diagonally across the machine without binding in the boxes, slide 44, grooved guideways 46, screw 47, lugs 48, and 49, and hand wheel 50. The sliding swivel box 40, Fig. 5, carries the shaft 43, at the forward end of the machine Fig. 2; it preferably has upturned fulcrums 41, Fig. 5, with their top edges resting against the underside of the slide 44 to relieve the strain on the stem 42, incident to the tightening operation.

The stem 42, extending upward on the top side of the box 40, is round in cross section permitting the box to swivel. It has a collar on its upper end which is diametrically larger than the body of the stem and is integral therewith. Through an opening in the slide 44, the stem 42 is placed with the top of the collar flushing with the upper side of the slide 44. Babbitt metal 45 poured into the opening, around the collar and upper part of the stem will hold the box in position and permit it to swivel. The slide 44 is tongued on its two edges to fit grooves in the guideways 46. The screw 47 passes through the lug 48 on the slide 44, and is collared on the end to prevent its being pulled out. It is threaded into the lug 49, secured to the frame of the machine. By operating the screw 47 by means of the hand wheel 50, any desired tension of the conveyer is attained. 53, Fig. 1, are guides for directing the material to be sliced to the center of the conveyer. I prefer two pair of guides. They are adjustable to regulate the width of space between their floating ends, to accommodate different grades of material. The forward pair are spaced Wider apart than the rear pair.

For a conveyer I prefer a stitched canvas belt, the rough surface affording better carrying quallties. 54, Fig. 1, are boards forming the cover of the stand, their inner edges overlap about one inch on each side of the conveyer 51, leaving a groove down the center for the travel of the material; the groove preferably narrows as it appoaches the cutters; the guides 53 are secured to these boards.

A shield 56, Figs. 1 and 2, is placed immediately in front of the cutters with a semicircular opening in its lower side which regulates the quantity of material to pass through the cutters and prevents any material getting into the cutters except through the groove 54.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a slicing machine the combination of a plurality of rotatable circular slicing knives assembled in semi-circular order and on radial lines, a plurality of rotatable tubular journal cutter mountings in fixed positions, a plurality of universal joints disposed in semi-circular order, the terminal ones connecting the terminal cutter mountings with the power transmission, the intervening ones connecting the terminal and intervening cutter mountings, effecting a composite unit action.

2. In a slicing machine the combination of a frame, a semicircular supporting beam, the ends resting upon said frame, a plurality of hangers assembled upon said supporting beam in semi-circular order and on radial lines their convergent lower journal ends being offset to one side, a plurality of rotatable cutter mountings journaled in the convergent lower ends of said hangers, one in each hanger, said mountings having integral cutter carrier flanges turned in, a plurality of circular slicing knives secured to said cutter mountings, one to each mounting.

3. In a slicing machine the combination of a rotatable circular cutter, a hanger with its journal end offset to one side, a rotatable shaft cutter mounting journaled in said hanger, having an integral cutter carrier flange turned in.

4. In a slicing machine a traveling cutting surface cushioning pulley pivotally sup ported, and means of operation.

GEORGE W. DREW.

Witnesses:

Gnoncn WELZ, W. E. FORREST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

